News : Kurth talks Youth for Christ and The Well with area Kiwanis

Shawna Kurth and her team work with around 200 kids a year in downtown Vinton

Shawna Kurth, Family Ministry Director at Blessed Hope Commnuty Church in Vinton and also a part-time worker for Youth For Christ, gave a presentation to the Vinton Kiwanis Club on Tuesday about her work.

Shawna, her husband Tim and children live in Vinton where Shawna works with middle school and high school-aged children. She spends many hours at The Well and and working with children at her church Blessed Hope Community Church.

She explained that the Youth for Christ program has been around since 1940 and another tidbit of history, Billy Graham was the first employee of the organization. Youth for Christ, reaches out to support 11-19 year old students. Kurth works with the Heartland Youth For Christ that is based out of Cedar Rapids. The organization covers Linn, Benton, Dubuque and Bremer counties. She said that there are 11 people on staff with the organization. Kurth oversees the Vinton-Shellsburg Community school area.

In a generation of teenagers who are connected to everyone, all of the time, this is the loneliest generation she said. The kids struggle most with loneliness, anxiety, isolation, stress, hopelessness and suicide. She works hard to meet with the kids face to face and work with the kids to build relationships with the teens. She wants them to know that if they ever need to reach out, she's always there to talk.

The Well is used for teenagers to gather. It houses a basketball court, volleyball and also a pickleball court. There are plans to add a coffee bar and any other updates will be geared toward teenagers. She hopes to have it open this summer for the kids to enjoy.

Looking for ways to support Youth for Christ in Vinton?

1. Become a Youth for Christ Volunteer who works directly with teens

* (must be approved through the YFC application process)

● Help at youth groups/clubs

● Help at building time events

● Lead small group Bible studies

● One-on-one appointments with teens

2. Become a community support member who helps with behind the scene needs for clubs, volunteers, events, etc.

3. Become a faithful prayer partner praying over the teens, the adults who are working alongside them, and the ministry as we work to meet teens where they are.

4. Become a financial supporter of Vinton YFC

5. Help support The Well, a gathering place for teens

* The Well is currently being used to host youth groups and bible studies. It includes a small gym with a basketball court, volleyball net, and upstairs game room, as well as cozy seating and tables for conversations.

* Future plans (contingent on funding) are to finish the outdoor gathering space, purchase gaming systems, and additional board games, and create a small coffee shop/ice cream station.

For further information or questions, please visit https://www.heartlandyfc.org or https://www.facebook.com/TheWellVinton/or contact Shawna at Shawna@heartlandyfc.org

Kurth said that over the course of the year, she's worked with about 150 kids in the 5th -8th Grade age range this year. The groups meet on Wednesday night at The Well in downtown Vinton at 417 1st Ave (across from the iVinton office).

The high school 9th-12th graders, meet on Sunday nights at 5:30 pm. Kurth works with about 50 kids in those grades.